Tiger Wins Dubai in Dramatic Fashion

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Feb. 3) - Tiger Woods birdied his last two holes Sunday to rally from a four-shot deficit and win the Dubai Desert Classic, starting his season with two victories that looked nothing alike.

One week after winning the Buick Invitational by eight shots, Woods had to birdie five of his last seven holes for a 7-under 65, then wait to see if Ernie Els could catch him.

Needing a birdie on the par-5 18th to force a playoff, Els hit his tee shot into the water and made bogey.

"To go 2-for-2, it's a pretty good start, isn't it?" Woods said.

This is the third time he has started a season with two straight victories, and it was another sign that the world's No. 1 player could be headed for a big year. Woods now has won his last four official tournaments, and six of his last seven dating to the Bridgestone Invitational in early August.

He also won his unofficial Target World Challenge by seven shots in December.

Woods birdied his last two holes for a 14-under 274 and a one-shot victory over Martin Kaymer. Woods had already finished when the German, who won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship two weeks ago, closed with a birdie-birdie-eagle for a 66.

It was a devastating blow to Els.

The 38-year-old South African, who has finished runner-up to Woods more times (seven) than any other player, is in the middle of his three-year plan to become No. 1 in the world. He said recently he needed to start winning, and this was the perfect occasion.

Instead, the Big Easy closed with a 71 and tied for third at 276 with Louis Oosthuizen. It was the second time in three years that Els hit into the water on the 18th at Dubai and lost to Woods. In 2006, it happened during a sudden-death playoff.

"The second shot on the 18, it was right where I had it, but I could see the gust got it in the air and it didn't have much of a chance in the end there," Els said about his wayward shot.

Woods lost momentum with bogeys on the sixth and ninth holes, but he poured it on along the back nine with seven birdies to capture the Dubai Desert Classic for the second time.

"All of I sudden I was in the mix, (and then) out of the mix," Woods said. "I knew I had birdie three of the last four to win."

Woods said his chip-in birdie on the 12th was the turning point.

The shot "was a lot harder than people might think," Woods said. "I just happened to catch one of those lies, and I was just hoping it would come out soft. I hit it hard and hoping I would kill it and it came out as soft as can be."

Five holes later at the 359-yard, par-4 17th, Woods drove the ball just to the left of the green.

"I just wanted to make sure I hit it a little bit left and even if I was in the left rough, just wanted to have an angle at the flag," he said.

One hole later, Woods sent his second shot past the green on the edge of a bunker. He chipped the ball short and then made the birdie putt.

"I'm thinking, I could easily chip the ball in the water," Woods said. "You have to make your mistake short and if I leave it too short, (I'll) just chip up and try to make a par and probably not going to win the tournament, but see what happens."

At the Buick Invitational, Woods took the lead on the second day and never looked back. In Dubai, Woods went into Sunday's final in fifth - four shots behind Els. He had been in the lead after the first two rounds, but shot a 1-over 72 Saturday - driving wayward balls in sand near the gallery several times.

Part of the problem was his back-up driver. Woods said he cracked the face on the driver he used for more than a year in practice Wednesday. He said the new driver was supposed to be the same but put too much spin on the ball.

"I'm just happy to get a win out of this," said Woods, who won his 72nd career tournament.

But looking ahead, Woods said he hopes his next win is more like the Buick and less like Dubai.

"I like (winning) by seven or eight a lot," Woods said. "It's a lot less stressful."